Painting engine

[eliasmavs99]

I know people paint their valve cover and air "intake" ports or whatever. What kind of paints have you used? What color works best?

[bimmerphile]

Dark colors work best for obvious reasons. You will need to remove any cosmoline before applying the high-temp paint (like barbecue paint as some have used).

Paint with several coats, then put a piece of rough sand paper on a block (relatively rough, like 200 grit) to sand down the lines and BMW. Increase the grit all the way to, say, 5000 if you want to get a very nice finish.

[LikeCDoos]

Dark colors work best for obvious reasons. You will need to remove any cosmoline before applying the high-temp paint (like barbecue paint as some have used).

Paint with several coats, then put a piece of rough sand paper on a block (relatively rough, like 200 grit) to sand down the lines and BMW. Increase the grit all the way to, say, 5000 if you want to get a very nice finish.

how do you get off the cosmoline? i've got a tiny bit starting up on my head

[Court M3]

Prep work is the key. Make sure you clean it throughly before painting. Had a friend bead blast mine first.

Spray thin coats to avoid runs in the paint. Let it set overnight, and if you haven't done so in a while install a new valve cover gasket. Should be good as new

[Jand3rson]

how do you get off the cosmoline? i've got a tiny bit starting up on my head

You can't have cosmoline FORMING on your engine. It's something that was put there by dealers.

[M42Technik]

...how do you get off the cosmoline? i've got a tiny bit starting up on my head

If I recall correctly, you use something called "simple green" and let it sit overnight. Should come right off. I am not sure if that is the right cleaning product though, someone correct me if so.

[Brew]

how do you get off the cosmoline? i've got a tiny bit starting up on my head

You can't have cosmoline FORMING on your engine. It's something that was put there by dealers.

I was under the impression that the cosmoline was put on in Germany and the dealers were supposed to take it off when they received the cars. A lot of them never did. And yeah, Simple Green works great at removing it.

[bimmerphile]

how do you get off the cosmoline? i've got a tiny bit starting up on my head

You can't have cosmoline FORMING on your engine. It's something that was put there by dealers.

I was under the impression that the cosmoline was put on in Germany and the dealers were supposed to take it off when they received the cars. A lot of them never did. And yeah, Simple Green works great at removing it.

Yes this is correct.


Josh: I think Cdoos meant he had some on the head, to elsewhere. Not moving, but just descriptive of location.

[Digitalwave]

Simple Green isn't going to take the cosmoline off your valve cover and intake manifold.

I used industrial strength paint stripper on mine, it took the stuff RIGHT OFF with a wire brush. The stuff looks like bar-b-que sauce.

Then I used engine paint primer and "universal black" on the parts. It looks great.

[bimmerphile]

Simple Green isn't going to take the cosmoline off your valve cover and intake manifold.

I used industrial strength paint stripper on mine, it took the stuff RIGHT OFF with a wire brush. The stuff looks like bar-b-que sauce.

Then I used engine paint primer and "universal black" on the parts. It looks great.

It did for mine and Tara's just fine.

BMW also sells a "Cosmoline Remover"

[318driver]

TJ, got any pics or your engine bay?

[LikeCDoos]

I think i was under the impression that "cosmoline" was something different than it really is. Can someone explain to me what cosmoline is? I thought it was the yellowish areas that you typically see in older bimmer's engine bays.

[Brew]

I think i was under the impression that "cosmoline" was something different than it really is. Can someone explain to me what cosmoline is? I thought it was the yellowish areas that you typically see in older bimmer's engine bays.

That's what it is.

Did you get the springs yet by the way?

[LikeCDoos]

I think i was under the impression that "cosmoline" was something different than it really is. Can someone explain to me what cosmoline is? I thought it was the yellowish areas that you typically see in older bimmer's engine bays.

That's what it is.

Did you get the springs yet by the way?

thats what i thought, springs haven't arrived yet, i'm expecting them either later today or tomorrow. Worst comes to worst they will be here next week. I'm in no hurry. thanks again :up:

[Jand3rson]

Josh: I think Cdoos meant he had some on the head, to elsewhere. Not moving, but just descriptive of location.

Ah. My bad.